Burnsville City Council — Transcript
Monday, September 21, 2026
NPDES/MS4 Program Annual Summary
Sustainability Programs 2026 Update
Annual Lakes Report
Natural Resources Review Committee Roundtable
Votes (4)
NPDES/MS4 Program Annual Summary Presentation and Public Hearing
Dissent: No dissent recorded for a presentation and public hearing.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Emily Jennings (FCH) and Logan Vlasaty (City Engineer) presented the 2025 annual summary of Burnsville's NPDES/MS4 program. The presentation covered the six minimum control measures, highlighting public education, involvement, illegal discharge detection, construction stormwater control, post-construction stormwater management, and pollution prevention. Key project highlights included the I-35W/Cemetery Pond flood reduction project and the 2026 Valley Restoration project. The presentation also addressed the ongoing delay in the MPCA's e-Services portal for permit renewals and reporting. Commissioners asked questions regarding technical aspects of inspections, illegal discharge reporting, pond mapping, and the city's approach to permeable pavements.
Sustainability Programs 2026 Presentation
Dissent: No dissent recorded for a presentation.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Bridget Rathsack, the Sustainability Coordinator, provided an update on Burnsville's sustainability and energy action plans. She detailed the city's three-dimensional approach to sustainability and its long-term goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (40% by 2030, 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels). The latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory revealed a 63% reduction by 2025 (compared to 2005), putting the city 17 years ahead of its 2040 target. This success was attributed to cleaner utility energy, reduced city electricity consumption (especially in water treatment plants through variable speed pumps), and renewable energy credits. Community engagement efforts and future initiatives, including a DNR urban forestry grant and the GreenCorps program, were also discussed.
Annual Report on the Condition of Lakes
Dissent: No dissent recorded for a presentation.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Caleb Ashling, Natural Resources Specialist, presented an overview of water quality in Burnsville's lakes and ponds. He explained the city's three watersheds and extensive stormwater infrastructure. The report focused on state water quality standards for phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and clarity, noting that Alimagnet and Keller Lakes remain impaired. Progress was reported for Alimagnet Lake, showing significant phosphorus reduction after an alum treatment in 2024, with a second treatment planned for October 2026. Lac Lavon maintained excellent quality, and Crystal Lake, previously impaired, was delisted in 2018 with ongoing buffer restoration. Earley Lake also met standards, benefiting from planned buffer management. Sunset Pond showed unusual high phosphorus levels in 2025, prompting further investigation. The presentation also highlighted community involvement through volunteer monitoring, a high school education program, water quality grants, and stormwater stencil programs.
Natural Resources Review Committee Roundtable
Dissent: No notable dissent.
Moved by null · Seconded by null
This segment covered several brief updates or postponements. Discussions on the Biodiversity Index, Local Schools, Tanisborne Park, and Watering Restrictions either had no updates or were not presented. A presentation on 'Lighting Impact on Migratory Birds,' requested earlier in the meeting for the roundtable, was subsequently postponed to the upcoming October meeting due to time constraints.
Notable Quotes (10)
This year is more significant, as with a new permit coming out, there are more topics to talk about than normal.
In general, Burnsville is not very flood-prone, thankfully. We're able to handle rain events pretty well with our existing infrastructure. So our priorities are going to be more water quality focused, assuming that the pollutants in the stormwater and the volume of the rain aren't an issue. So our priorities will be ensuring that pollutants are picked up and treated.
Legally, an MS4 permit can expire. They have expired in the past for years sometimes. If a city is operating under an expired permit, they continue to implement what that permit says. That's what is expected.
The interconnected red line is where we are. We are at a 63% reduction in 2025 from our 2005 baseline. We met our 2040 emission reduction target a full 17 years early. So that's super exciting.
Technology has changed quite a bit on pumps. So it used to be that pumps were either on or off, and so when they went on, there was a huge surge and everything started going. Now, pumps are variable speed drive. That allows us to run them at a certain speed, which saves more energy, right?
When I ask folks out in public, it's always, how do you save energy? And it's turn off your lights, turn off your TV, and I love those answers. And as you think about the heating season coming up, maybe drop your thermostat one degree. Try it.
We had big success last year. So alum treatment, aluminum sulfate, it's a commonly used product in water quality improvement projects. It binds with phosphorus in the water column. And when that aluminum sulfate settles into the sediments, it stays there. And if sediments or phosphorus are released from those over time in future years, any available aluminum sulfate will bind with that phosphorus and keep it from getting released into the water column where algae can use it.
Lac Lavon is not a natural lake, arguably, because it was a quarry previously, unlike Elmo [Alimagnet] too. And so that would impact the stuff that's down there. The bottom of that lake looks a lot different than the bottom of Elmo [Alimagnet] likely.
If we continue to be non-compliant in the lake, I think that would be something that we would certainly consider. It's a process that usually involves doing an in-depth study on the lake to determine if alum is even an appropriate fit for that particular pond. And then if the study shows that it is, then we'd have to look for funding to complete that. Most of these other alum projects, especially the larger ones, like Keller and Alimagnet, those are grant funded. Those are hundreds of thousands of dollars for those applications.
Daphnia, these tiny little zooplankton that eat algae, they prefer to hide in the plants. And if there aren't many plants, then they get eaten by sunfish and other small fish. In lakes that have plants, Daphnia have a place to hide, and then they migrate up to the surface at night to eat more algae in the water column.
Ordinances & Resolutions (16)
Federal program under the Clean Water Act, implemented by states, requiring permits for pollutant discharge.
Specific permit designation for Burnsville, indicating ownership and operation of a stormwater network.
Required plan for MS4 permit holders, outlining minimum control measures and best management practices.
Online portal being developed by MPCA for permit applications, causing delays in annual reporting.
Regulatory mechanism that may require updates with the new MS4 permit.
Part 2 of the MS4 permit application, a detailed document outlining compliance requirements.
Burnsville's first sustainability plan, primarily focused on city operations.
A broader sustainability plan covering 10 focus areas across the entire city.
Detailed plan developed with the Natural Resources Committee, focusing on energy goals and actions.
Biennial report assessing greenhouse gas emissions from city operations.
City document containing water purity goals and priority areas for water management.
Grant from the MN DNR for habitat restoration, specifically for Crystal Lake buffer improvements.
Grant from the MN DNR for buffer management around Earley Lake.
AmeriCorps-affiliated program administered by MPCA, focusing on environmental leadership development.
City program offering up to $1000 for local water quality improvement projects by residents.
Program supporting outreach efforts for energy efficiency and sustainability in businesses and multi-family residences.